Sunday, September 05, 2010

RENO, Nev. - - Belmont closed out the Nevada Invitational with a five-set win over Weber State to move to 3-4 on the season. The win also gave Head Coach Deane Webb his 300th career win.

The Bruins needed a fifth set to knock off the Wildcats after dropping the fourth set, 23-25. Belmont entered set four with a 2-1 lead and ultimately took the deciding set 15-4 behind strong performances by its upperclassmen.  Junior Maggie Johnson (Naperville, Ill.), led the Bruins with 19 kills. She also added 12 digs and three service aces. Senior Kayla Albritton (Gainesville, Fla.) added a season and career high 18 kills, plus four blocks and a service ace to go along with her team high .378 hitting percentage, while fellow senior Tara Blood (Boise, Idaho) led the Bruins with five blocks and also added 11 kills. Freshman setter Hannah Miranda (Covington, La.) turned in a season and career high 59 assists, the most by any Bruin this season. Danielle Prochaska (Middelton, Wisc.), freshman middle hitter, made her Belmont debut in the win tonight. All five Bruin freshman have now played at least one set this season.

Albritton was again solid for the Bruins, turning in 15 plus kills in every match of the Invitational. For the weekend, Albritton averaged 17 kills per match and nearly four kills per set. In the Nevada Invitational, Albritton turned in a .399 hitting percentage and accumulated two service aces, 13 digs, and 12 blocks.

"Kayla was incredible this weekend," Webb said. "Because we didn't win as many matches as we would have liked this weekend, it's unlikely she'll receive the MVP of the tournament. She led the tourney in kills per game and was second in hitting percentage. She's transformed herself from a very average freshman to an outstanding player as a senior.  Truly a tribute to the hard work she puts in every spring and summer in the weight room. She deserves anything good that comes her way."